Root crops - How do I grow large root crops?

Comments for Root crops - How do I grow large root crops?

John,I suggest you give more information on how you are growing your crops before an informed answer can be given.
Yours sincerely Bill T.

Aug 09, 2009

poor root cropsby: john

bill i have had soil test I have tried raised beds I have plenty of water from lake, but I can not even grow any thing much larger than a small marble.
I have had soil test. I have tried raised beds I have ample sun and water. I have added bone meal and other high phosperous fertilizer. I have followed almanack moon planting dates. nothing works. HELP

Aug 11, 2009

Roots crops produce small rootsby: ~ Megan ~

Something will work, because something is not working now and you will need to go through a process of elimination to find out that something! As Bill says, more info please...

A lack of even one nutrient can affect growth. What are the tops of your roots crops like — nice green or pale or yellowing/red, bushy or stunted too? How comprehensive was your soil test? If you're happy with the quality of your soil test, then...
— What about very clay-like soil, or stoney soil, both of which root crops struggle with. They like friable soil — are the roots forked at all, or very hairy?
— Did your seedlings dry out at all when tiny — that can stunt their growth for later?
— Sun is very important for root crops ? do you know how many hours of full sun a day they're getting? It should be 4-6, any less is pushing your luck.
— On the other hand, carrots for example dislike too high temperatures; they're regarded as a cool crop. The different varieties available mean some prefer to be grown in early spring and autumn, whilst others are main crop and can stand higher temperatures.
— What varieties are you growing? What are the different root crops, besides carrot I presume, are you having trouble with? Radishes, beetroots etc?
— Have you tried rotating your root crops? If so, do you always find that still nothing works?
— Too crowded, competing with a crowd of other roots or weeds?

A photo or two would help, so we can see the growth, colour etc? More information is needed so we can turn "Nothing works", into "Temporarily nothing works."